Newcastle starts the second half with an early chance from a throw in by Geremi who found Barton lurking into the Arsenal defence with a help of a flick from Alan Smith.
Given has a work for the ball in 48 minutes when a neat one-two pass from Arsenal saw Rosicky pass the ball to Eboue who lash it into Given’s hand. United keep the possession and pushing forward again in search for an equaliser.
Almunia has done great job for the visitor side tonight. He is couple of times raise up high to pick the ball from Newcastle’s corner. For the visitor, I see that Clichy and Rosicky have couple times delivering dangerous cross to the heart of Newcastle defence.
Milner slips the ball inside for Smith and goes for the return, the winger’s is being tracked every inch of the way by Sagna and Toure, a quick double touch sees the winger escape their guard and send a low cross skidding across the face of goal, Almunia dives from his line to gather and the Gunners survive.
Sagna and Gallas both working hard to close down Martins, who has very little chances to control the ball, before Newcastle finally got the deserved equalizer through Steven Taylor in 60 minutes.
Barton closes down Rosicky’s attempted clearance on the left before spins free for Beye, the Senegal star takes a touch and digs the ball out with a cross aiming for Smith on the penalty spot. Smith’s headed flick is dummied by Martins for Steven Tylor who is lurking at the back post to shoot right-footed and beat Almunia into the Gunners goal via the upright.
St. James errupted celebrating the goal, and the lads being liften by the goal making heavy pressure to the visitor side. Geordies faithful realy enjoying the game today and keep bringing the noise.
Mike Dean’s book also have the French full-back Sagna after acting disgracefully tries to get Smith booked when there was clearly no contact. The Geordies faithful now pleased to give him a booed as a bonus.
Martins with high speed running and chasing the through ball in 65 minutes and found Almunia who leaving his nest to pick the ball out before Martins. And Taylor had to defend against the counter from Arsene Wenger’s side.
Habib Beye, who have good performance today going into Mike Dean’s book in 73 minutes for a simple tug on Rosicky although it looks like he was the one who is being fauled by the Czech Republic midfielder.
Meanwhile, Mark Viduka is getting the warm up for Newcastle and coming in the field to replace Geremi in 76min with Alan Smith dropping back into midfield and taking over the captaincy.
In the closing minutes, Steven Taylor looks like having his second for tonight with Milner crosses deep and Rozehnal heads the ball down for Taylor inside the six-yard area, but somehow Arsenal’s defender luckily deflected the ball up and over the bar.
Newcastle United players have answering the Geordies calling with tonight’s performance. Everyone is doing all their best and performing a “willing to die” action which is being hugely respected by 50, 305 St. James’ crowd.
With this kind of performance, we will get more better result this weekend when Birmingham come to visit and taste the St. James’s Park new atmosphere this season.
Newcastle United:
Shay Given, Habib Beye, Charles N’Zogbia, Steven Taylor, David Rozehnal, Nicky Butt, Joey Barton, Geremi (c) (Mark Viduka 76″), James Milner, Oba Martins, Alan Smith
Subs: Steve Harper, Jose Enrique, David Edgar, Emre
Arsenal:
Manuel Almunia, Bacary Sagna, Kolo Toure, Tomas Rosicky, Lassana Diarra, Eduardo Da Silva (Nicklas Bendtner 68″), William Gallas (c), Gilberto Silva, Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Adebayor, Emmanuel Eboue
Subs: Jens Lehmann, Denilson, Alexandre Song, Theo Walcott
Referee: Mike Dean
Attendance: 50, 305